Blackberry plant named &#39;DrisBlackThirteen&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named ‘DrisBlackThirteen’, particularly characterized by having medium to high productivity, medium-sized, black berries and self-fruitful plants, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Rubus L. subgenus Rubus

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DrisBlackThirteen’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct blackberry cultivardesignated ‘DrisBlackThirteen’ and botanically known as Rubus L.subgenus Rubus. This new blackberry variety was identified in Santa CruzCounty, California in December 2009 and originated from a cross betweenthe proprietary female parent blackberry plant ‘BP571 (259L4)’(unpatented) and the proprietary male parent blackberry plant ‘BP554(252I5)’ (unpatented). The original seedling of the new cultivar wasfirst asexually propagated by tissue culture and root cuttings at anursery in Santa Cruz County, California in 2009. ‘DrisBlackThirteen’was subsequently asexually propagated by tissue culture and rootcuttings and underwent further testing at a nursery in Santa CruzCounty, California from 2012 to 2014. The present invention has beenfound to be stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexualpropagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for.‘DrisBlackThirteen’ has not been made publicly available or soldanywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing date ofthis application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Santa Cruz County, California.

1. Medium to high productivity;

2. Medium sized, black berries; and

3. Self-fruitful plants.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new blackberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the plant's canes, flowers, fruit, and leaves. The colorsshown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures. The photographs are of plants that are 2yearsold.

FIG. 1 shows a section of a young cane without spines.

FIG. 2 shows the flowers at various stages.

FIG. 3 shows the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following descriptions of ‘DrisBlackThirteen’ are based onobservations made in Santa Cruz County, California on 2-year old plants.This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Colordesignations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptionsmay deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending uponvariation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions.‘DrisBlackThirteen’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. Color terminology follows The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, London (R.H.S.) (2007 edition).Descriptive terminology is from the Plant Identification Terminology, AnIllustrated Glossary 2^(nd) edition, by James G. Harris and MelindaWoolf Harris, unless where otherwise defined.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Rosaceae.        -   Botanical.—Rubus L. subgenus Rubus.        -   Common name.—Blackberry.        -   Variety name.—‘DrisBlackThirteen’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary blackberry plant named ‘BP571            (259L4)’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Proprietary blackberry plant named ‘BP554            (252I5)’ (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Vigor.—Medium.        -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.        -   Productivity.—Medium to high.        -   Propagation.—Tissue culture and root cuttings.        -   Self-fruitfulness.—Self-fruitful.        -   Time of bud burst.—Late.-   Canes:    -   -   Fruiting lateral length (4^(th) lateral from tip).—Medium;            27.3 cm.        -   Number of fruit per lateral.—11.        -   Fruiting on current year's cane.—Present.        -   Cane internodal distance.—5.5 cm.        -   Number of new canes during flowering.—Medium to many.        -   New cane strength (observed full-grown shoot after            picking).—Medium to strong.        -   Glaucosity observed on full-grown shoot after            picking.—Medium.        -   Young shoots.—Quantity: Medium Time of emergence from soil:            Early Anthocyanin coloration (during rapid growth): Weak;            RHS 181B (Medium greyed-red) Intensity of green color:            Medium; RHS 144B (Medium yellow-green) Number of glandular            hairs: Absent or few.        -   Dormant cane.—Length: Medium to long Diameter (in central            third): Medium Cross section (from mid cane observed at end            of first growing season): Angular to grooved Color: Shade            side: RHS 144B (Medium yellow-green) Sun side: RHS 187B            (Dark greyed-purple) Number of branches: Many Distribution            of branches: Over whole length Anthocyanin coloration:            Medium; RHS 187B (Dark red-purple) Spines: Absent.-   Leaves:    -   -   Type.—Palmate.        -   Predominant number of leaflets.—Five.        -   Overlapping or relative position of lateral            leaflets.—Overlapping.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Medium; RHS 144B (Medium yellow-green)            Lower surface: Medium; RHS 144B (Medium yellow-green).        -   Glossiness of upper side.—Medium.        -   Cross section profile.—Flat (level with the leaflet blade).        -   Leaflets.—Shape: Ovate Margin: Doubly serrate Depth of            incisions: Medium Type of incision margin: Bi-serrate Apex:            Truncate Base: Attenuate to Obtuse Rachis length between            terminal leaflet and adjacent lateral leaflet: 49.6 mm.        -   Lateral leaflet (basal pair).—Length: 127.7 mm Width: 89.0            mm Length/width ratio: 1.4.        -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: Medium to long; 141.4 mm Width:            Medium; 103.9 mm Length/width ratio: 1.4 Lobing: Absent            Undulation of margin (rippling of margin): Very weak to weak            Blistering between veins (rugosity): Medium Shape: Ovate to            orbicular Tip: Complex Base: Obtuse Margin: Doubly serrate            Cross-section: V-shaped.        -   Petiole.—Length: 21.2 mm Diameter: 2.4 mm Pigmentation:            Upper surface: Lightly; RHS 144B (Medium yellow-green) Lower            surface: Lightly; RHS 144B (Medium yellow-green).        -   Stipule.—Size: Medium Orientation: Clasping.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flower diameter.—Medium; 34.57 mm.        -   Flower number (at 3^(rd) node from tip of lateral).—4.        -   Petal.—Length: 18.00 mm Width: 15.23 mm Length/width ratio:            1.2 Color: RHS 69C (Light red-purple).        -   Pedicel.—Length: 18.08 mm Diameter: 1.56 mm Time of            beginning of flowering on previous year's cane: N/A Time of            beginning of flowering on current year's cane: Late.-   Fruit:    -   -   Size.—Medium.        -   Length.—Short to medium; 32.65 mm.        -   Width.—Medium; 23.43 mm.        -   Ratio of length to width.—Medium; 1.4.        -   Weight (g/fruit).—8.7 g.        -   Soluble solids (%) (in Brix).—10.5.        -   Titratable acidity.—(% as citric acid): 0.41.        -   Seed weight (g/seed).—0.00717.        -   Number of drupelets/fruit.—Medium; 97.17.        -   Size of drupelet.—Medium to large.        -   Color.—Immature: RHS 144B (Medium yellow-green) Maturing:            RHS 59C (Medium red-purple) Mature: RHS 203A (Black).        -   Firmness.—Medium to firm.        -   Glossiness.—Weak to medium.        -   Shape in longitudinal section.—Medium ovate.        -   Time of ripening on previous year's cane.—N/A.        -   Time of ripening on current year's cane.—Late.        -   Harvest interval.—Mid-August to mid-November.        -   Yield.—Medium.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance:    -   -   Verticillium wilt.—Susceptible.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘DrisBlackThirteen’ differs from the proprietary female parent ‘BP571(259L4)’ (unpatented) in that ‘DrisBlackThirteen’ has larger, firmerfruit with higher Brix and lower titratable acidity than ‘BP571(259L4)’.

‘DrisBlackThirteen’ differs from the proprietary male parent ‘BP554(252I5)’ (unpatented) in that ‘DrisBlackThirteen’ has much larger, butsofter fruit than ‘BP554 (252I5)’. Additionally, ‘DrisBlackThirteen’ isspineless, whereas ‘BP554 (25215) has spines.

‘DrisBlackThirteen’ differs from the commercial variety ‘DrisBlackTwo’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,002) in that ‘DrisBlackThirteen’ has mediumvigor and medium to high productivity, whereas ‘DrisBlackTwo’ has highvigor and high productivity. Additionally, ‘DrisBlackThirteen’ has fruitthat is weakly to medium glossy and medium to firm, whereas‘DrisBlackTwo’ has fruit that is strongly glossy and firm.‘DrisBlackThirteen’ differs from commercial variety ‘APF-45’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 22,449) in that ‘DrisBlackThirteen’ has medium ovate shapedfruit with lower titratable acidity, whereas ‘APF-45’ has elongated toblocky to slightly conical shaped fruit with higher titratable acidity.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named‘DrisBlackThirteen’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.